Apparatus for separating frozen articles from molds



Oct. 21, 1952 w. E. HEISE 2,614,510

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FROZEN ARTICLES FROM MOLDS Filed Feb. 28, 1947 '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i l i l l l IN VEN TOR.

JIE- l M1218; E. flez'se,

MWM

w. E. HEISE. ,614,510 APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FROZEN ARTICLES FROM MOLDS Oct. 21, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1947 IIE1E INVENTOR. 7W1! fee; I fleise BY Mme/vim.

JIE E Oct. 21, 1952 w. HE|5E 2,614,510

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FROZEN ARTICLES FROM MQLDS Filed Feb. 28, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

Wlieyj. fiez's BY A 0* Patented Oct. 21, 1952 OFFICE APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FROZEN ARTICLES FROM MOLDS Walter E. Heise, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application February 28, 1947, Serial No. 731,676

10 Claims. (Cl. 107--8) This invention relates to apparatus for separating frozen'articles from moulds. The apparatus is intendedparticularly for separating frozen confection articles from the moulds in which they are frozen. In'the manufactureof such articles, the multi-compartment moulds are filled with eatable material, such as ice-cream, and a stick is inserted therein, the mould subjected to freezing temperature, whereby the confection freezes in the mould and onto the stick: The sticks are detachably secured to a carrier plate, or holder, which detachably engages themould, whereby the sticks are centered in the respective pockets, or compartments, of the mould. v

' At the present time-the mould, with the frozen 1 ing means. v

The invention has as a further object an apparatus of the type referred to embodying a particularly simple and economical structure efficient in operation and capableof separating the frozen confection articles from the respective moulds without any manual manipulation.

The'invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

' In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views. Figure-1 is a side elevationalview of a device embodying my invention, the actuating mechanism therefor being shown diagrammatically. I Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1. Figure B'is a View taken on line 3-3, Figure 1. 1 Figure 4. is an end elevational view, looking to the right, in Figure 1. The device consists of a suitable frame including vertically extending members It arranged respectively at the corner of the rectangular structure, and being mounted upon lower rails I I. The

moulds l2 are advanced to the rectangular structure by means of :a conveyor, the outer end of which issupported on posts 13. The moulds are advanced to a mould support secured to the under side of} a boxlike structure l5 secured between two ofthe uprights In. The moulds l 2 are Pieseere rectan ul Structure iq m iwi h plurality of article moulding pockets l6, and with a handle I? extending upwardly from each end of the mould. Each article is frozen ontoa stick which subsequently serves as a convenient handle for holding the confection article while it is being eaten. These sticks l8 are detachably clamped in a holder plate l9 positioned on the top of the mould and provided at each end with a handle 20. The holder is also provided with pins 21 extending laterally from each side of the plate and adjacent each end. thereof. The moulds 12 are advanced toward the heating station, or mould support I4 .by being intermittently slid along a support 23. This intermittent motion is effected by a reciprocating carriage mounted upon supporting rollers 25. The carriage consists of side members 26 U-shaped in cross section and connected by a plate 21, the ends of which are secured heater means for to the lower legs of the side members 26 and from which the ends of the plate depend to position the same below the mould supporting rails 23. I The carriage is reciprocated by a. fluid actuated cylinder 29 secured tothe frame and having a piston rod 30-secured to a depending bracket 31 secured to the plate 21.

A plurality of pusher members 32 are pivotally mounted, as at 33, to the top leg of the side mem-. bers 26, the free ends of the pusher members 3-2 being yieldingly urged inwardly by torsion springs 35, The inward movement of the pusher mem bers 32 is limited by a tail piece 36 engaging a stop pin 3lmounted upon the side members 26-. The arrangement is such that when the carriage is moved rearwardly 'to the left Figure l, the pusher members 32 ratchet over the moulds I2 and, upon forward movement of the carriage, the members engage the rear opposite corners of the moulds and cause them to advance forwardly, see Figure 2.

The mould support M is arranged above a tank 38 filled with a liquid'maintained at high temperature. Meansis provided for effecting relative vertical movement between the mould support 14 and the liquid in the tank'38. This is brought about by a bucket or container 40 mounted upon the lower end of a rod 4| extending through the box member l5, the upper end of the rod being secured to a piston slidably mounted-in the fluid actuated cylinder 42 positioned on the top of the frame. When fluid is admitted to the lower end of thecyli'nder 42 through pipe 43, the bucket 40 is elevated to the dotted outline position indicated in Figure 1, at which time the pocket part of the mould I2 is immersed in the hot liquid. This constitutes a effecting release of the moulded articles 44. V j

As the moulds, with the articles therein and the article holder plates'theron, are moved onto the mould support M, the moulds are restrained from upward movement by plates 46 secured to and extending inwardly from brackets 41 projecting laterally from thebox structure l5.

Means is provided for effecting a force on the holder plates 19 tending to separate the same from the mould upon release of the moulded articles 44 from the mould compartments This means comprises a member 48. secured to. the lower end of a piston rod depending from the fluid actuated cylinder 49 also mounted. upon the top of the frame structure. Aplate 59 is secured to each side of the member 48,,andapair of latch members 5| are pivoted to each of the.

plates 50 and depend .downwardly therefrom. The latch members 5| normally rest against stop pins 52," and the lower ends-of the latches are. formed with cam surfaces 53, the arrangement being such that when the member 48 is lowered, the. latches move into engagement with the handles- 20 on the holder plates IS. The member 48,

4 as at 8|. of the rails 15, the forward end 20 passing over the hinge section 18, Figure 4, and under the lower end of the inclined member 80. The carriers are propelled along the Ways by any suitable conveying means.

and the latches carried thereby, is moved downi wardly by the admission of air to the cylinder 49 through pipe 53, and the assembly is moved upwardly by the'admission of fluid through the pipe 54, and when air is thus applied to the bottom of the cylinder 49, the assembly will moveiupwardly and carry with it the holder plate IS with the frozen articles 44 depending therefrom'to the position shown in Figure 1 when the mould has been sufliciently defrosted. to release the frozen articles. After the articles have been separated, or removed from the moulds, the moulds are advanced from the support 14, and the plates carrying the mouldedarticles are also advanced forwardly.

A pair of spaced apart plates 6E]v are mounted betweenthe brackets 41 and a top cross member 6| of the frame. The. edges of. one of the plates 60 arebent toiprovide tracks. to receive rollers 63 mountd on a plate 64, the lower end of which terminates in juxtaposition. to the top: of the mouldlZpositionedon. the support M. This lower edge of th'eiplate 64 is bent inwardly and a pusher member 65, similar to the pusher members 32; istmounted thereon and when the. plate 64 1's in forward position, the member 65 engages a rear;corner.o'f the mould, A similar pusher member (This mounted on an angle bracket 68 securedito' the plate 64, and is positioned to engage a corner of the holder plate I9. The plate 64 isreciprocated by means of cylinder 69, the piston rod of which is secured to the plate by bracket! Lsee Figure 2.

When fluid is admitted to the cylinder 69 through pipe 13, the plate 64 is caused to move forwardly to the right; Figure 4, and when fluid is: admitted to the opposite end of the cylinder through pipe 14, the assembly is moved rearwardly simultaneously moving the mould [2 from the support i4 and moving the holder 19 onto the conveyor rails which extend forwardly adjacent the inner sides of the plates 60. The forward end of the rails are inclined upwardly, as at '16, Figure 4, and terminate so that the'pins 2i on the forward end of the holder I 9 clear during upward movement-of the holder. The railslB are provided with hinged sections 18 arranged to permit the pins on the opposite end of the holder to pass up through the rails 15 to the position indicated in Figure 1 and in dotted outline, Figure 4. As the holder I9 is moved rearwardly by the member 61, it is movedout of engagement with the latches 5| andv the pins 2|, engage the incline I6 and the pins at. the opposite end or. the holder engage inclines 89 which are pivoted to the plates 60;

Fluid is admitted to the cylinders 29, 42, 49 and 69-byaseries. of valves 83-89 mounted upon a header9l connected to a source of fluid under pressure through pipe 92. The valves are of the type whereinthe pipes leading from the cylinders are: normally connected to atmosphere, and the valves are operated by cams 94 mounted upon a shaft 95 driven by a motor 96 through a gear reduction 91, the. valves being actuated by the cams 94 to connect the pipes leading to the'cylinclers respectively to-the fluid source 92, The circuit'for the motor includes a switch 98 which is closed by the moulds l2, actuating an arm 99- as they move along the rails 23. Preferably, the motor circuit further includes a theremostat switch 100, the contacts of which are closed while the liquid in the tank 38 is maintained at a pre-' determined temperature. With this arrangement, a noticed is furnished from wirellll, switches [00, 98, wire I02, to the motor 961 and thence, to the return side of the circuit through wire I94. Rotation of the shaft 95 closes thevalve 83 by its associated cam applying. air to the rear end of the cylinder 29 through pipe- I05. This effects movement of the pusher members 32 and'advances the foremost mould to the mould support I 4. The valves 88, 89 areactuated, the valve 88 supplying fluid. to the lower end of the cylinder 42 through pipe 43, effecting upward movement of the bucket. 40 to the dotted outline position, Figure 1, the valve 89 applying-air to. the top of the cylinder 49 through pipe 53'to. lower the latches15-I into. engagement with the handles 20 on the article. holder andthereupon, the valve '89.. is closed connectingthe pipe 531 with atmosphere .andthe valve 81 is opened'to apply fluid through pipe 54 to the loweriendof the. cylinder 49. Preferably, a regulating valve H17 isconnected in'this line, whereby the; pressure createdby the piston in cylinder 49, tending to separate the holder from the mould, maybe regulated so that the articles 44. will not be: pulled from the mould'before; the mould has been properly defrosted, or. the articles properly released from the pockets. in the mould.

The valve assembly now remains inactive by the formation of .thecams for a suiiicientperiod of time to permit the hot. liquid surrounding the mould to eifectively defrost, or release, the articles from the mould, whereupon the holder-l9 is elevated forv transfer to the rails 15. Thereupon, the valve 88 is closed and the pipe 43 connected'to atmosphere to permit. the bucket -40to descend. During this descent, a flatvalve H18, in the bottom of the bucket, opens permitting a fresh supply of .hot liquid to enter the bucket preparatory to its next ascent. The valve 95 is then opened to supply fluid to the rear end of the cylinder 69' through pipe 13 to effect movement of the carriage and pusher'member'lil carried thereby forwardly and, at the end or" this forward stroke, the valve is closed and the valve 85 opened applying fluid to the forward end ofthe cylinder 69 through pipe 14 and thus effecting transfer of the holder 19 and. the empty mould rearwardly.

If there are a series or progression of moulds 12 being advanced into the apparatus on rails 23, the switch arm 99 will remain depressed,

The holder thus descends to the level erable to successively advance; filled moulds to];

said station: and empty moulds therefrom, a tank containing a heated liquid, arranged at said sta.--

tion; a-container open atthetop, motion transmitting means operable to effect downward movement of the-container to submerge the same in the liquid in said, tank, and to move said container upwardly about a mould positioned at said S atiQnandcause-saidcontainer to dwell. in the upper position for a period suflicientto heat said moulds, to weaken the surface adhesion between the frozen articles and the moulds, a holder plate movingmeans arranged at said station and'being movable into engagement with said plates and being operable during; the application of the heated liquid to the moulds to exert a force tend-.

mgr-to"movesaidholder plates upwardly from.

themoulds; and only upon weakening of the Sure face adhesion between the articles and the moulds, to effect separation of the articles and themoulds, a holder plate advancin means operable to advance the separated plates with the articles attached thereto from said station, and motion-transmitting mechanism operable to actuate said container, advancing means and plate moving means in timed relation.

7. Apparatus for separating frozen from moulds containing a plurality of such articles atached to a holder plate comprising a separating station, a mould advancing means operable to successively advance filled moulds to said station and empty moulds therefrom, a tank containing a heated liquid arranged at said station,- a container open at the top, motion transmitting means operable to effect downward movement of the. container to submerge the same in the liquid in said tank, and to move said container upwardly about a mould positioned at said station and cause said container to dwell in the upper position fora period sufilcient to heat said moulds to weaken the surface adhesion between the frozen articles and themoulds, a valve mechanism arranged in the bottom of said container and being operable to admit hot liquid in the container upon downward movement of the same into the tank, a holder plate moving means arranged at said station and being movable into engagement with said plates and being operable during the application of the heatedliquid to the moulds to exert a force tending to move said holder plates upwardly from-the moulds and only upon weakening of the surface adhesion between the articles and the mouldsto'effect separation of the articles and the moulds, a holder plate advancing means operable. to advance the separated plates with the articles attached thereto from said station, and motion transmitting mechanism operable to actuate said container, advancing means and plate moving means in timed relation.

8. Apparatus for separating frozen articles from moulds containing a plurality of such articles attached-to a holder plate comprising a suitable frame, a' separating station, a mould-guideway extendingto said station, a mould discharge guidewayextending from said station, a holder plate guideway extending from said station in vertically spaced parallel relation to said mould discharge guideway, mould advancing members operable to successively advance moulds along said first guideway to said station, means arranged at said station. to heat saidmoulds to articles weaken the-surface; adhesion. between the frozen; articles and the moulds, holder plate movingmeans cooperable during the application of, heat. to said mouldsto move the holder plates up,

Wardly and to effect suchupward movement only upon, weakening of the surface adhesion between: the articles and the mould and. to position the:

separated holder plate in register with said holder-plat guideway..a second mould advancing means operable to..advance the empty moulds;

along said mould discharge .g uideway, holderplate advancing means operable to advance the separated holder plates along the holder plate guideway, and motion transmitting mechanism operable to, actuatesaid structures in timed rela tion.

9.. Apparatus for separating frozen articles moulds containing a plurality of such articlesv attached toa holder plate. comprising a'separat ing station, amould advancing means operable. to successively advance filled moulds to-said station and empty moulds therefrom, a mould heat ing means arranged at said station and operable to heat moulds sufiiciently to Weaken the surface adhesion between the frozen articles and the, moulds, a holder plate moving means arranged at said-station and being movable into engagement with said plates and being operable during the application of heat to saidmoulds to exert a force incapable of separating the frozen articles from themoulds but capable of moving said holder plate upwardly to effect separation of. thearticles and the moulds when said surface adhesion is weakened, a holder plate advancing means operable to advance the separated plateswith the articles attached thereto from said station,

motiontransmitting mechanism operable to ac-.

tuate said advancing-means and plate moving means in timed relation, and means operable to rendersaid motion transmitting means inoperable until said heating means reaches a predetermined temperature.

10.-Apparatus-gfor separating frozen articles.

from moulds containing a plurality of such articles attached to a holder plate comprising a frame, a tank containing av heated liquid, a mould support for supporting a mould, means operable to effect relative vertical movementbetween the mould support and tankv to effect immersion of.

when the surface adhesion between the frozenarticles and the moulds is weakened.

WALTER E. HEISFL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordi-n the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,960,456 Robb May 29, 1934 2,100,031 Hall Nov. 23, 937v 2,166,381 Taylor et a1 July 18, 1939 2,172,182

Thomas ..Sept. 5, 1.9.3. 

